John Michael Root was born in London, England in 1937, was among the many children shipped out of London during WWII and ultimately emigrated to the U.S. with his mother in 1952. They settled in Danbury, N.H., where John graduated from Bristol High School, then subsequently from the University of New Hampshire in 1958. John became a naturalized citizen his senior year and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

John went on to serve 30 years in the Air Force in a variety of positions including as a navigator on B-52 bombers during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a pilot flying C-130’s during the Vietnam War, and played a pivotal role in Operation Babylift evacuating orphans from Vietnam at the end of the war. He commanded an Air Force ROTC detachment at the University of Wisconsin and ultimately served abroad as Air Attache at the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Defense Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, before retiring in 1988. John also earned a master’s degree in education from Pepperdine University while on active duty.

Following his retirement, John returned to New Hampshire, settling in Bristol, where he became active in the local community. He served as executive director of the Newfound Area Chamber of Commerce, served on the State Board of Education, was elected to the N.H. House of Representatives and founded the New Hampshire Marathon, which continues to be held each year around Newfound Lake.

John was active with the Academy of Learning in Retirement, the British Sporting Club, played lots of golf and spent countless days cheering on his beloved Chelsea Football Club. John was happiest with some footy on the TV and a fresh cuppa’ tea.